Hire Premium Swiss Talent.
Skip the Complexity.
Navigate 26 cantonal systems, three-pillar pensions, and work permits without the headache. We handle Swiss employment compliance so you can focus on building your team.
€599/month per employee · €1,000 one-time hiring fee
Trusted by companies hiring in Switzerland
Why companies hire in Switzerland
Access premium talent, global finance expertise, and a gateway to European markets.
Premium Talent Pool
Home to ETH Zurich, EPFL, and world-class universities. Multilingual workforce fluent in German, French, Italian, and English.
Global Finance Hub
Zurich and Geneva rank among the top financial centers worldwide. Deep expertise in banking, insurance, and wealth management.
Tech Innovation Center
Google, Meta, and 500+ tech companies have R&D centers. Crypto Valley in Zug. Strong pharma and biotech presence in Basel.
Gateway to Europe
Central location with four national languages. Strategic access to EU markets. Stable political and economic environment.
Swiss employment essentials
Key facts about employing in Switzerland. We handle all of this for you.
| Currency | Swiss Franc (CHF) | |
| Standard Work Week | 42 hours | Varies by industry; 40-45 hours common |
| Minimum Vacation | 20 days | 25 days for employees under 20 |
| Public Holidays | 8-15 days | Varies by canton |
| Probation Period | 1-3 months | Up to 3 months by agreement |
| Notice Period | 1-3 months | Increases with tenure |
| Sick Leave | 3 weeks in Year 1 | Increases with tenure (Berner/Zürcher scale) |
| Maternity Leave | 14 weeks | 80% of salary, federally mandated |
| Minimum Wage | No federal minimum | Geneva, Basel-Stadt, Neuchâtel have cantonal minimums |
Varies by industry; 40-45 hours common
25 days for employees under 20
Varies by canton
Up to 3 months by agreement
Increases with tenure
Increases with tenure (Berner/Zürcher scale)
80% of salary, federally mandated
Geneva, Basel-Stadt, Neuchâtel have cantonal minimums
26 cantons. 26 sets of rules.
Switzerland is not one country when it comes to employment. Each canton has its own tax rates, minimum wage rules (or lack thereof), public holidays, and administrative requirements. What works in Zurich may not work in Geneva.
Global EORs often treat Switzerland as a single entity. They miss cantonal nuances, leading to compliance gaps, incorrect tax withholdings, and frustrated employees.
How Virmondo EOR handles it
- We track all 26 cantonal employment regulations
- Contracts tailored to specific canton requirements
- Correct tax withholding based on employee residence
- Local experts familiar with regional practices
Canton comparison
| Canton | Language | Min. Wage | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geneva | French | CHF 24.59/hr | ~35% |
| Zurich | German | None | ~25% |
| Basel-Stadt | German | CHF 21/hr | ~30% |
Geneva
FrenchCHF 24.59/hr
~35%
- •Highest cantonal minimum wage in Switzerland
- •Strong employee protections
- •Additional insurance requirements
Zurich
GermanNone
~25%
- •No cantonal minimum wage
- •Most favorable tax environment
- •Industry-specific collective agreements
Basel-Stadt
GermanCHF 21/hr
~30%
- •Pharma industry dominance
- •Cross-border worker regulations
- •Strong union presence
Geneva specifics
- •Highest cantonal minimum wage in Switzerland
- •Strong employee protections
- •Additional insurance requirements
Zurich specifics
- •No cantonal minimum wage
- •Most favorable tax environment
- •Industry-specific collective agreements
Basel-Stadt specifics
- •Pharma industry dominance
- •Cross-border worker regulations
- •Strong union presence
The three-pillar pension system
Swiss retirement benefits are split across three pillars. We manage all of them.
AHV/IV
Old Age and Survivors Insurance
Mandatory state pension providing basic retirement, disability, and survivors benefits.
- Employer pays 5.3%, employee pays 5.3%
- Maximum monthly pension: ~CHF 2,450
- Retirement age: 65 (men), 64 (women, moving to 65)
BVG
Occupational Pension (Pensionskasse)
Mandatory occupational pension for employees earning above CHF 22,680/year.
- Employer must pay at least 50% of contributions
- Contribution rates increase with age
- Threshold: CHF 22,680 annual salary (2024)
Pillar 3a
Private Pension Savings
Tax-advantaged voluntary savings. Contributions deductible from taxable income.
- Employee-funded, employer may contribute
- Tax-deductible up to annual maximum
- Locked until retirement (with exceptions)
Additional mandatory insurances
Covers work-related accidents (employer-paid) and non-work accidents (employee-paid for workers >8hrs/week).
Paid by: Employer (work) / Employee (non-work)
Mandatory unemployment insurance. 1.1% each from employer and employee on earnings up to CHF 148,200.
Paid by: 50/50 split
Employer-funded fund providing child and education allowances to employees.
Paid by: Employer
Covers income replacement during military service, maternity, and paternity leave.
Paid by: 50/50 split
Work permits in Switzerland
Two pathways depending on your candidate's nationality. We handle both.
EU/EFTA Citizens
Citizens of EU and EFTA member states
Notification procedure (no approval needed)
1-2 weeks
Requirements
- Valid employment contract
- Registration with local authorities
- Health insurance enrollment
- L permit (short-term) or B permit (long-term)
Non-EU/EFTA Citizens
Citizens of countries outside EU/EFTA
Quota-based approval required
2-4 months
Requirements
- Employer must prove no suitable local/EU candidate
- Market salary requirements
- Quota availability (limited annually)
- Highly qualified professional or specialist status
Permit types at a glance
| Type | Name | Duration | Renewal | Non-EU Quota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L | Short-term residence permit | Up to 12 months | Renewable for 12 months | 4,000 (non-EU, 2026) |
| B | Residence permit | 5 years (EU) / 1 year (non-EU) | Renewable | 4,500 (non-EU, 2026) |
| C | Permanent residence | Unlimited | After 5-10 years of B permit | N/A |
| G | Cross-border commuter | 5 years | Renewable | No quota |
Short-term residence permit
Up to 12 months
Renewable for 12 months
4,000 (non-EU, 2026)
Residence permit
5 years (EU) / 1 year (non-EU)
Renewable
4,500 (non-EU, 2026)
Permanent residence
Unlimited
After 5-10 years of B permit
N/A
Cross-border commuter
5 years
Renewable
No quota
Non-EU hire? We handle the quota process.
Work permits for non-EU citizens require proving no suitable local or EU candidate exists. We prepare the documentation, track quota availability, and manage the entire application.
EOR vs. Swiss entity setup
Compare the real costs and timelines before committing to entity setup.
| Category | Virmondo EOR | Swiss Entity |
|---|---|---|
| Time to First Hire | 2 weeks | 3-6 months |
| Setup Cost | €0 | CHF 50,000-150,000 |
| Monthly EOR/Admin Cost | €599/employee | CHF 5,000-15,000/month |
| Compliance Risk | We carry liability | You carry liability |
| Minimum Commitment | None | Multi-year setup |
| Exit Flexibility | 30-day notice | Liquidation process |
Time to First Hire
2 weeks
3-6 months
Setup Cost
€0
CHF 50,000-150,000
Monthly EOR/Admin Cost
€599/employee
CHF 5,000-15,000/month
Compliance Risk
We carry liability
You carry liability
Minimum Commitment
None
Multi-year setup
Exit Flexibility
30-day notice
Liquidation process
Choose EOR when you want to:
- Test the Swiss market before committing
- Hire quickly without 3-6 month setup
- Avoid CHF 50K-150K upfront investment
- Focus on business, not Swiss bureaucracy
Consider an entity when:
- You need 20+ employees long-term
- Swiss presence is core to your business
- You need to hold Swiss assets or contracts
- Tax optimization requires local entity
Swiss talent hubs
Where to find the talent you need. We operate across all major Swiss cities.
Zurich
Google, UBS, Credit Suisse, ETH Zurich
Geneva
UN, CERN, WHO, Private Banks
Basel
Roche, Novartis, Lonza, BASF
Also hiring in:
How we get you hiring in Switzerland
From decision to day one in as little as two weeks.
Define Your Need
Tell us who you want to hire, their role, and target start date. We advise on Swiss salary benchmarks and benefits.
Contract & Compliance
We create a Swiss-compliant employment contract, handle cantonal registration, and set up social insurances.
Onboard Your Hire
Your new employee signs their contract with Virmondo EOR as legal employer. We set up payroll, pension, and benefits.
They Start Working
Your employee begins. We handle monthly payroll, tax filings, pension contributions, and ongoing HR support.
Define Your Need
Tell us who you want to hire, their role, and target start date. We advise on Swiss salary benchmarks and benefits.
Contract & Compliance
We create a Swiss-compliant employment contract, handle cantonal registration, and set up social insurances.
Onboard Your Hire
Your new employee signs their contract with Virmondo EOR as legal employer. We set up payroll, pension, and benefits.
They Start Working
Your employee begins. We handle monthly payroll, tax filings, pension contributions, and ongoing HR support.
Swiss EOR pricing
Transparent pricing. No hidden fees. Everything you need to employ in Switzerland.
Per hire (recruiting service)
- Access to Swiss talent network
- Candidate sourcing and screening
- Salary benchmarking guidance
Optional. Bring your own candidate? Skip this fee.
Full EOR service
Get StartedCancel anytime with 30-day notice. No exit fees.
What's included in Swiss EOR
How we compare to global EORs in Switzerland
Virmondo EOR
Deel
Remote
Oyster
Plus: DACH-specific expertise they can't match.
Companies hiring in Switzerland
See how teams expand into Switzerland without the complexity.
“Hiring our Zurich fintech engineer would have required 4 months just for entity setup. Virmondo EOR had him onboarded in 12 days. The cantonal registration alone would have overwhelmed us.”
Michael T.
CTO, Fintech startup, 30 employees
US fintech startup, first Swiss hire
“We needed someone in Geneva who understood French-speaking clients. The employment rules there are different from Zurich. Virmondo EOR navigated the cantonal differences seamlessly.”
Sophie W.
VP Operations, Trading platform, 120 employees
UK trading firm, Geneva expansion
“Our candidate was from Singapore. The work permit quota process was daunting. Virmondo EOR handled everything and secured the B permit in 6 weeks. We would never have managed that alone.”
David P.
Head of Engineering, Data platform, 45 employees
US startup, non-EU specialist hire
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about EOR in Switzerland.
Have a question about Switzerland we didn't answer?
Contact UsExplore EOR in other DACH countries
Each country has unique employment requirements. We specialize in all three.
Ready to hire in Switzerland?
Skip the entity setup.
Start building your Swiss team.
Hire your first Swiss employee in two weeks. We handle cantons, pensions, permits, and compliance.
What to expect
DACH specialists · GDPR compliant · EU data hosting